I’ve held a BIG dream to gather a community of women to support each other in exploring our inner landscape with creativity for so long… and now that I’m getting closer to realizing this dream, I’m feeling sick to my stomach.

So much fear and worry and excitement has been bubbling up, I can hardly bare it.

I’ve been finding myself getting lost in thoughts, worrying about details that don’t really matter, worrying about whether people will want to join me, worrying that others are already building communities, worrying that my dream will fail…

Noticing this pattern, I started searching everywhere for help or tools or something to guide me in moving past all this to get back to focusing on what really mattered – taking steps to get me closer to realizing this dream of mine.

I’ve been fumbling for months; muddling through the fear and searching for answers, while still trying to get closer to my dream. That is, until today…

After sending out an OH SO SCARY, vulnerable email to a select few women, it hit me… I knew all along how to move past my fear and realize my dream. I’ve done it before. I could do it again.

And the answer is so much more simple than I had realized.

(And of course, this answer came from within, and not from my endless search for help. Oh how easy it is to forget that we have everything we need within! Sometimes we just need a simple reminder of the truth we have within us. Which is why I share my stories with you, and why I want to gather women to share even more stories.)

Anyway, back to the truth of moving past fear…

I realized that the answer was simple: Stay in the moment and take one tiny step at a time.

Simple. Right?

But it’s not so easy to remember when we’re caught up in fear, lost in our mind’s thinking. But when we finally remember… oh how powerful it is!

It’s the same technique I used to get myself across the country for my first scary trip alone. And it’s the same technique I teach in my class Roots to help others get past their creative blocks – to simply get present and focus on the one tiny step in front of us.

I like to think of my mind as a computer that can only think about the past or the future (which often generates fear, or uncertainty, or guilt, etc). But when we get present in the here and now, that’s the realm of the heart and our intuition. That’s where we’ll find the courage to move forward.

When traveling across the country alone, I was only able to get past my fear by telling myself to just focus on that next step: “Okay, all I have to do is pack my bag.” Then, “Okay, all I need to do is set my alarm for 6am.” Then, “All I need to do is get in the car.” Next, “All I need to do is drive to the airport.” And so on.

Putting hyper focus on the one tiny step in front of you… there’s no room to think about what might happen next. There’s no room for the fear to step in.

And when you have that level of focus and forward movement, there’s no telling what dreams you’re capable of accomplishing!

What one step are you willing to take next?

P.S. If you’re interested in learning more about my upcoming community, send me an email! I’ll only be opening it to a small group of women to become the founding members as we grow the space. Will you be one of them?

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” ~George Bernard Shaw

We look to others who seem free and full of life, playfulness and creativity, with a longing, hopeful heart. And yet we stand here, arms upon our hips, rigid and firm, struggling in pain to hold tight onto an identity that doesn’t quite fit.

Why?

If we so deeply feel the urge to let it all go, to dance in the rain, to feel the wind upon our face, to dip our fingers into the paint… why do we still stand here, pretending to value our nicely kept homes and hard work over our joy?

I know you can feel deep down how much you NEED creativity in your life. How much you NEED to just let loose and express yourself. Many of you have told me.

And yet, here we still sit. Letting our minds hold onto this rigidness and fear. And I say WE, because yes, I too feel this struggle day after day… even after years of honoring my creativity.

Our minds are funny that way… we can see the value in play and creativity, we feel the need to create; and yet our minds tell us we can’t. There’s too much risk, we’re not good enough, we have too much work to do.

We’re stuck between two worlds.

Society has shaped exhaustion as a status symbol and productivity as self-worth; yet recent studies are showing us that play and rest are essential. Dr. Stuart Brown, a psychiatrist and clinical researcher, argues that play is not an option.

He writes, “The opposite of play is not work – the opposite of play is depression.”

There’s a part of us that knows this is true. Yet there’s another part of us who still wants to fit in to the norm, to prove our self-worth through societal standards. We are stuck in between, and don’t know which way to turn.

But should we stay here, refusing to choose? NO. Our refusal to choose joy for ourselves right now in this moment, is our refusal to help shift our society into a new way of living that matches our beliefs.

It’s time to act on our belief that we need rest, that we need play, that we need creativity, that we need JOY.

Not only for ourselves, but for our children, for our community, for our world. We have seen enough pain and suffering. We’ve been feeling the confusion and doubt and uncertainty all around us. And yeah, there’s a part of me who just wants to crumble beneath it all. And still, there’s another part of me who wants to rise up and embrace the beauty and wonder and joy in this world… because I know creativity and play are powerful healers.

It’s time to shake loose my friend! Wiggle those fingers. Wiggle those arms. Roll your shoulders. Start to sway from side to side. Let the wiggles roll through your entire being! It’s time to consciously choose joy, one moment at a time.

Let us not wait until the day that permission is handed to us on a silver platter. Let us choose it NOW and help spread the word.

Your mind will fight against it. But what I’ve learned, is that the more I choose play and joy and creativity, the more I remember that letting go will not undo me. The more I remember that this is what fills me up. This is what allows me to be even more productive. Allows me to love more. LIVE MORE.

Our letting go will not undo us. Let us prove our minds wrong, one baby step at a time.

Are you ready to say YES!?

Here’s eight easy ways to start saying yes to play and creativity (and start proving to your mind that there’s nothing to fear!)

#1. Make it a habit to doodle on the foggy mirror with your finger after every shower.

#2. Spend some time with young children – kids are masters at play and creativity, let them lead the way!

#3. Challenge yourself to do a little doodle each day – I’m in love with the book Year of the Doodle by Dawn Sokol! I can’t always remember to do it everyday, but when I do I don’t beat myself up for forgetting and I play quickly without worrying about what it looks like.

#4. Head out for a walk or day trip without a plan. Keep an open, curious mind and see what you can discover!

#5. Start super small. For example, if you’re called towards art journaling or another creative act that feels huge and overwhelming, start by practicing showing up and committing to just one minute of play with paints or crayons.

I’m answering a few more questions from the survey again today! If you missed part 1, you can find it HERE.

Again: these are quick, basic responses; and many of them do require more in depth discussions – which I hope to get to on the blog over the next few months!

Let’s get to it…

I have no idea where to begin. How do I begin? And how do I know which is the right path?

I believe there is no “right” or “wrong” path – especially in creativity. If you start something and find that it doesn’t bring you joy, try something else. At least you’ll gain experience from it and you’ll have one more thing to cross off the list of paths. But you will never know what will bring you joy if you stay stuck in trying to decide what to try. Choose something that excites you, and then start simply with the most basic supplies.

I want to try “ALL” the different techniques. How do I get past that desire to try all and just focus on one thing at a time and finish it? I get confused on all the different products out there. I see one person using this and another one using something else so I feel like I need all the stuff in order to create something and then I don’t know what to use.

With mixed media being so popular, manufacturers are taking advantage of it, creating thousands of different products. Which is cool for those who love to explore with new products. But not so cool for beginners trying to find their way. With all of these available products, it creates an unlimited number of possibilities for techniques and supply combinations. Quite different from say, if you wanted to learn pottery or oil painting. So, to enter this world of mixed media and not lose your head (or your wallet!), you need discipline and a narrow focus. If you already bought a ton of supplies and e-courses, put them aside for now and just choose one approach with a couple supplies. Put your blinders on, and begin. Promise yourself that you will get to try out all the others in time. But you won’t get anywhere if you try to go everywhere at once!

Is it just me or … how do you make creativity a priority when faced with all the other things that need doing? I have a hard time putting on blinders and everywhere I look, there are things to do!

OH totally not just you! I have heard sooo many talk about this block! And you’ve got it right – it’s all about making creativity a priority in your life. But how? Well, sacrifice and discipline. You can only fit so much in your day. If you want to fit creativity in, you have to move something else off your to-do list. For me, I often kick cleaning off my to-do list for the week, then we as a family have a “cleaning party” on Saturday morning. Try logging what you do every hour or half hour for a day or so. See exactly where your time is spent. Do you spend hours on Facebook? Watching TV? Is there something you do daily that can be done in batches? Tackle this from the other side as well: how is creativity important to you? Think about what benefits you can get from spending your time creating instead of elsewhere. Another idea is to schedule it in – in PEN. Make it a non-negotiable appointment.

As much as I love to create, I still feel unmotivated to start. Do you feel that? If so, how do you overcome it? How do you get motivated?

YES, I feel that! And there could be a number of reasons why we feel unmotivated, and even more ways to overcome it. You have to find what motivates YOU. Think about other areas of your life. What gets you moving to do something? Do you need to feel excited about it? Do you need a deadline? For me, I need an idea and excitement. For example, I’ve been putting off working in my new sketchbook because I have no idea what to sketch in it. So I keep it on my workspace, and keep it in the back of my mind to be open for inspiration. Right now I’m motivated to work in my art journal because I have a goal, and when an idea strikes to finally get to that sketchbook, I’ll be motivated to work on that.

I don’t seem to get out of the stage of copying work from other artists. How can I let go? How do I find my own artistic style?

I think this topic of finding your style needs to be explored more… but here are my current thoughts: I myself had given up to the fact that I will never have a “style” because I love so much to bounce around from different approaches and mediums. And yet, one of the questions I received was “How did you discover your personal style?” which sounds to me like they believe I have a style. Which got me thinking – maybe if you pour yourself into your work, people can see that. It’s just hard for you to see it. On the other hand, some artists like Flora Bowley and Roxanne Coble absolutely have a definitive style. And perhaps it’s because they are the type of person that wants to really dive into one approach and stick to it. Which is totally not my thing. I have some ideas and theories on how someone would “find their style”, but it’s definitely not an area I’m an expert in (yet!).

How do I heal my inner self through art journaling?

That’s a big question. But the simple answer is to separate yourself from all the imagery you find on the internet, and understand that what you are doing is completely different. Your focus will be solely on the process, not on what it looks like in the end. To get started, perhaps look up a few art therapy exercises. Or just start with scribbling, then take it one decision at a time to follow your intuition.

What is the real difference between journals, art journals and sketchbooks?

How can you tell whether you just need more practice and experience with a creative endeavor or you will never improve so should move on to something else.

Oh honey, you can ALWAYS improve. But, does it give you joy?

How can I journal personal stuff when I’m afraid of hurting people?

Your journal is for your eyes only. You don’t need to share it. If you’re scared that people will snoop, then perhaps using some hidden journaling techniques would help ease your fears.

I gather that there isn’t a person without issues. I wonder how one figures how to start clearing those issues and which should go first. And why there are so many people making fun of psychologists and the Co. who are supposed to help people?

Hmm, I’m not sure what you mean about people making fun… I think therapy and coaching is becoming more and more accepted. We could all use some guidance. There are those who work through their issues on their own, but I know it’s a hell of a lot easier with professional help! As for where to start first, identify what is affecting you most in your every day life right now. Then get clear about every aspect of it. <HERE.

With today’s busy lifestyle and I understand you have a family and children, how do you find/make time for your creativity?

It’s tough. Right now my children are young, the youngest being three so she’s with me constantly. I never get large chunks of alone time. Most of my creating is done with her by my side. Which can get messy and frustrating. But our creativity time together is the only thing keeping me sane until I’m able to find time to create on my own again. For now, it’s just a phase in my journey, and I’m exploring all the possibilities of it. That, and as I mentioned above, creating trumps cleaning! lol

What is your greatest source of inspiration?

It varies. Sometimes I get inspired by what I see online, like right now everyone is creating mandalas, and I totally want to explore that myself as well! In my art journal, I usually use whatever my latest thoughts are as my inspiration. For example, I’m currently diving deep into learning about the creative process; so all my journal pages have been exploring that concept.

What’s been your biggest lesson in the past year, as you’ve taken new courses?

Over and over again, I learn the lesson of accepting my natural process. Of accepting who I am and how I naturally work – in all areas of my life. You can’t look at how others do things and compare yourself to them. What works for others may not work for you.

When you start an art journal page, do you usually have something in mind, or just play and let ideas come after you’ve begun? or both?

My natural creative process is to have something in mind first. But, in my art journal, I use it to exercise listening to my intuition and just play. It’s a whole new way of creating for me, and I’m still trying to figure out how to make it work for me.

What’s your favorite type of craft?

I’m a dabbler. I love to try out new things, and then move on to the next thing. I’ve tried candle making, soap making, basket weaving, sewing dolls and quilts, drawing, painting, art journaling, scrapbooking, and the list goes on. Check out my old flickr account HERE.

You seem very calm. With your little ones and a business to care for, how do you manage it all? You seem to be always creating. How do you do it?How do you get SO Much done in what seems like a short amount of time?

Let me tackle all three of these at once… there’s a bigger issue at play here. What you see online (by everyone) is curated. You see the highlights; you see what we want you to see. It’s not the whole picture. To quote Stephen Furtick: “The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind the scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.”

Yeah, I’m super calm in my videos – wanna know why? Because it’s my natural nature, and being in my happy place (with you, and creativity!) brings out my true self. But, most other times? I’m yelling and pulling my hair out like a maniac trying to get the kids to do what needs to be done. (truth!) And no, I am not always creating. Previous to my last spurt of journaling, I didn’t open up my art journal for weeks (or maybe it was months??). It’s funny that you think I get so much done in a short amount of time. Where did you ever get that idea? Guess what? The biggest, loudest thing that my inner critic says is: “Why does it take you so long to get anything done? You’re going nowhere fast! You should have waaay more done by now!”

Moral of the story? No matter how perfect or put together someone looks, there’s always a storm behind the scenes. And for the record, it’s not that I want to hide any of this from you, it’s just that going on and on about my bad days and struggles wouldn’t be very inspiring or helpful to you. Except for when it is.

Have more questions or would like to add to one of my responses? Comment below! I’ll be back in a few days with round 3! :)

The other day, I sent out a survey and the last question was: “If you could ask Kristal one question, what would it be?” I got so many interesting questions, I thought it would be fun to do a little rapid fire Q+A here on the blog!

Below you’ll find a few of the questions I received with my simplified answers. Mind you, these are quick, basic responses; and many of them do require more in depth discussions – which I hope to get to on the blog over the next few months!

Let’s get to it…

Why are you interested in these questions and getting to know others?

The better I get to know YOU and what your “problems” are in relation to what I teach, the better I can help you. I have such deep beliefs about creativity and how essential it is in our lives, that I want NEED to spread the word and inspire as many people as I can to get creating. This mission gives me purpose, and fills me up in so many ways. So in essence, we’re helping each other live happier lives. :)

How do I get “unstuck” (out of a creative funk, past a creative block, etc)?

You can’t get past a block if you don’t know what the block looks like. Clarity is always the first step in any intentional change. Sit down with paper and a pen, and start writing. Ask yourself why you can’t create. What’s stopping you? Make a list. Complain. Get it all out. Can all these excuses be boiled down to one fear or belief that doesn’t ring true anymore? If you have trouble pin-pointing it, I can help – email me at hello{at}kristalnorton.com and ask about my Jumpstart package. :)

How do you stop worrying about your work being good enough?

I received so many variations of this question. And there are a lot of variations to what my response would be. But, two key things to consider: think about your intention. Are you trying to produce beautiful art and perfect techniques? Or are you creating to have the experience and reap the benefits of creativity? Either is totally awesome, and yes they do intertwine. But which comes first for you? Once you know, you can approach your creating accordingly.

The second thing to consider: when you’re a beginner, you have to start at the beginning. What you create will not match up to what you see in your head. But, this is a good sign. It means you have good taste. You know what you like and don’t like. The more you create, the more you can close that gap and begin to see your work look closer like you imagine. Ira Glass talks about this beautifully HERE.

What should I do when everything I create is rubbish? People say beginners should practice a lot, but not only can I not do much because of my disability, seeing how shit my “art” is makes me wonder why I even bother trying when I’m so ridiculously bad.

See my answer to the above question. Your intention is key. Focus on WHY you create. And I’ll add this: we all need to embrace our natural abilities and way of doing things. You especially, because you have a limitation that is impossible to fight against. Embrace the limitation, and experiment with how it can make your work unique from everyone else’s. Check THIS out!

Why does it seem like many art journaling teachers think that so many people are insecure and lacking confidence?

Interesting question… and the answer is, because there ARE so many people approaching art journaling and mixed media who are lacking confidence. We as teachers get tons of questions dripping with insecurities and fears; we need to address it. And I know, if you’re someone who doesn’t struggle with that, it can get frustrating to hear all the jabber about “believing in yourself”. But the fact is, art journaling and mixed media in general opened up a door into the creative world for all those out there who have always believed that they weren’t creative. It has given them a glimmer of hope that they too can do this. Another reason, is that this art form requires using your intuition, which many people have gotten out of touch with in this product driven world. So in these ways, this creative endeavor is much different than other art forms you might get involved in.

Is it possible to unlock creativity at an older age I have always had ideas but can’t get them from my head through to my hands?

It’s never too late! And I would love for you, and the other few people who asked similar questions on how to find yourself to send me an email!! I have a project in the works to help. :)

I’ve tried to make room for more creativity in my life, but my job is so draining and long, that I am often too exhausted to do something creative every day – is there any way to make more room for creativity with such a job or do I need to quit?

If your job is making you unhappy, then consider your possibilities. But, you don’t need to quit a job to be creative. There are so many other ways to be creative everyday without producing art journal pages or paintings, etc. Since you’ve sent me this question via the survey, I know you have a copy of my Water ebook preview. Check it out, it includes 10 ways to be creative without creating.

Every question I thought of had its own answer! So I guess I need an imaginary wise artist to ask questions of so that I can become aware of the solutions. Thanks for asking me that question and connecting me with my own wisdom!

Yay! That is so awesome that you recognize this. Everything you need is right inside you. Perhaps you can make a poster of your inner wise artist to talk to when you’re feeling stuck. :)

Any free books or courses?

Not anymore, but I’m working on making new freebies!!

Do you LOVE me :)

Of course darlin’! ;0)

How old are you?

As of writing this (May 2015), I’m 34. My father says we Nortons age well. lol

What kind of study/employment background do you have? :)What course of study did you use to become a coach?

I worked as a dental assistant in my younger years and studied graphic design and fine arts in college, but fell just short of finishing my degree when I became pregnant with my first child. It was then I began building businesses so I can stay home with her, and then decided not to return to traditional schools. I now continue my education through research and online courses. Two out of the many that I’m proud to mention: Courageous Coaching Training Program by Kate Swoboda and IGNITE by Connie Solera. These two intense classes by these amazing women changed everything for me! (PS if you happen to join one, be sure to let them know I sent you!!)

How did you get started doing what you are now doing?What was the turning point for you to decide to make this your career?How did you know this — teaching/coaching — was your path?

As I mentioned above, I started my first business (Rags-n-Tags) because I wanted to stay home with my daughter. My plan then was just to create and sell, which turned out pretty well; but after years of doing it, I got so sick of creating the same thing over and over that I had to quit. My next idea was to just move on to another medium and stick to the same type of business plan: create and sell.

But along came an intensive business course by Katie Freiling (which, unfortunately is no longer available), and that turned my whole outlook around. She helped me bring out my passions, see my purpose in this world, and how I can better contribute. From there I began blogging and researching like crazy about creativity. I became obsessed with people’s stories, how we create, and internal blocks to just do it already. The more I learned, the more I realized that it has a lot to do with how our minds work, so I delved deeper into learning about that – which included coaching.

This of course is the super condensed version of my story. But basically, through the help of a talented coach to get me clear on what my passions were, and feeling the excitement it gave me to help someone be creative, I followed that path until it led to where I am today!

You can find an overview of my journey HERE and a video interview about it HERE.

What makes you feel/why do you consider you are qualified as “art therapist”/how did you get started with your first online class?

Well, I wouldn’t consider myself an “art therapist”. When forced to put a title on it, I often use the term “creativity guide”. I considered going back to school to get a degree in art therapy, but after researching and talking to a few who’ve gone that path, I decided it wasn’t for me. Too many rules, covering your ass legal stuff, and limitations. I found coaching is a better approach for what I do – helping people get past the self-imposed blocks to creating.

So, getting back to your question – why do I consider myself qualified? Well, I spent a year in intensive coaching training, and have been studying creativity officially for about four years now. I’ve also worked one-on-one with hundreds of women to test out my theories and what I’ve learned. It’s a never-ending journey though; I continue to learn more every day.

In answer to what I believe is your underlying question: no matter what you do or where you are in life, there are always people who can learn from you. I started teaching art journaling before I felt like an “expert” in it (still don’t!). But I knew, that what I learned so far was more than what complete newbies knew… and they could benefit from what I’ve learned.

How do you deal with balancing the “business” side of an art business with actually creating art that you love?

This is a toughy! As you can see from my personal story, I totally failed at this with my first business. My creating was all for the biz, and it burned me out. I wanted desperately to quit and just create for myself again. Which I did, and now I don’t sell much of my art at all. I create for myself, and use my art as a supporter for my biz. I think if you just stay true to what you want to create, the right people will find you and fall in love with it.

If you have ever got “lost” creatively how have you refound your path?

Yes! If you read my above answers, you’ll see how I got so drained from creating primitives for my first business that I just had to quit and start creating freely for myself again. I had a calling to try out mixed media, but I was scared and lost. The only thing that helped me get started was to simplify, shut myself away from all the “inspiration” online, and begin following my intuition. Click HERE for a video of me telling my story on how I floundered starting art journaling.

Will you develop another art journaling course beyond Roots?

Oooooh Absolutely!!! These past two years have been dedicated to learning. When I’m done with Ignite, I’ll be teaching like a maniac!! lol

Have more questions? Comment below! I’ll be back in a few days with round 2! :)

This article is part of my FREE e-course Art Journaling 101 – which has been designed to gently introduce beginners to the basics of art journaling so you can find your way with more ease and less fear. If you’re curious about art journaling or overwhelmed with how to begin, sign up for the full free course HERE.

Dear ugly page,

I know you didn’t mean to cause such turmoil. But as you emerged within my journal, I was faced with so many thoughts and emotions that almost brought me to tears.

I guess I was secretly hoping that you would turn into something beautiful… something that I could look back on and smile, something I could share with the world. Because when you didn’t, I was flooded with disappointment and frustration. I began to worry, “Why can’t I create something I love?”

That’s when it hit me – I was putting conditions on my love for you … when all you’ve ever done was bring me joy, and insight, and relief.

What right do I have to withhold my love for you when all you did was become who you were meant to be?

What right do I have to tell you who you should or should not be?

You were created as an expression of my Soul. You are what needed to be released, what needed to be born. You are evidence that I have the magic to create something from nothing. You are the evidence of creativity flowing through me. You are the evidence of me honoring ME.

So I thank you.

I thank you for having the courage to be who you are without fear or shame, so that I may learn to do the same – flaws and all.

I thank you for reminding me to enjoy the process of creating, releasing, and expressing; and to relish every moment I have to share with you.

I thank you for showing me that there is much more in life beyond my thoughts, beyond my ego; and that there are discoveries to be made around every corner.

And I thank you for unapologetically showing up when you knew you weren’t what I was hoping for, to remind me to celebrate where I am today instead of always looking to the future. I thank you for being that physical reminder of where I am right here and now, so that I may look back on my growth as a creative, as a woman, as a human, as a Soul.

Please note that actions you take from links on this blog may yield commissions for the owner. Click here for my disclosure statement.

About Kristal

Kristal is a creative life coach who helps women reclaim their creative magic, reconnect with their Soul, and realize their innate magnificence so they can lead a more authentic, fulfilling life. Click here to read more...